Books are often judged by their covers, and why not let that cover be your guide? The Read the Rainbow Challenge is an engaging way to diversify your reading list by selecting books based on the colors of their covers. By challenging yourself to read through the spectrum of colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—you’ll end up with a stack of books as visually pleasing as it is diverse in content. It’s a creative way to break out of your usual reading patterns, discover books you might not have considered, and add a bit of fun to your reading journey.
Why Read the Rainbow?
The idea behind a color-themed reading challenge is simple: let the color of a book cover be the deciding factor in your selection. While we often choose books based on genre, author, or recommendations, the Read the Rainbow challenge pushes us to explore stories that might have otherwise stayed under the radar. The colors not only add a fun element to the reading process but also encourage us to diversify our shelves, leading to a greater chance of discovering unexpected gems. You’ll find yourself picking up different genres, authors from different backgrounds, and perhaps reading books you wouldn’t have naturally gravitated towards.
Colors can be powerful symbols, evoking different emotions and feelings. When you structure your reading around colors, you may find a deeper thematic experience—the vibrant red of a thrilling adventure, the cool blue of a thoughtful memoir, the bright yellow of an uplifting, sunny story. This not only helps diversify your reading experience but also helps shape your mood and broaden your appreciation for different types of stories.
Setting Up Your Rainbow Challenge
The Read the Rainbow Challenge involves selecting books based on the seven colors of the rainbow—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—along with optional additional colors like pink, white, black, and multicolored if you’re feeling ambitious. Here’s how you can make it happen:
- Plan Your Colors: Start by creating a list of all the colors you want to read. At a minimum, you’ll want the classic rainbow—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Feel free to add extras if you’re up for more of a challenge.
- Hunt for Covers: Head to your local bookstore, library, or browse online to look for covers that match each color. The fun of this challenge is the hunt—letting your eyes wander across shelves to find that perfect shade. While the cover color is the main criterion, also make sure the book sounds interesting enough to keep you engaged.
- Mix Up Genres: The beauty of the rainbow challenge is that you’re likely to end up with a diverse list. Try to pick different genres for each color. Maybe a red-covered thriller, an orange memoir, a yellow fantasy, a green historical novel—this way, you’ll get the visual appeal of the rainbow as well as a varied reading experience.
Suggestions for Each Color
If you’re not sure where to start, here are some book suggestions for each color of the rainbow that span different genres and styles:
- Red:
- “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern – A spellbinding fantasy set in a magical, otherworldly circus.
- “Red Rising” by Pierce Brown – A sci-fi adventure filled with rebellion, power struggles, and plenty of twists.
- Orange:
- “The Martian” by Andy Weir – A gripping sci-fi story about an astronaut stranded on Mars, with a cover that captures the Martian landscape.
- “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi – A powerful historical novel that traces generations of a family through slavery and freedom.
- Yellow:
- “The Yellow House” by Sarah M. Broom – A memoir about family, resilience, and home, set in New Orleans.
- “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman – A quirky, heartfelt story that will leave you smiling.
- Green:
- “Annihilation” by Jeff VanderMeer – A mysterious, ecological sci-fi that takes readers into the lush and eerie Area X.
- “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett – A classic children’s novel full of growth, hope, and transformation.
- Blue:
- “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison – A poignant, beautifully written exploration of race, beauty, and identity in America.
- “Circe” by Madeline Miller – A retelling of Greek mythology that brings the powerful witch Circe to life, set against the deep blues of the Aegean Sea.
- Indigo:
- “The Indigo Girl” by Natasha Boyd – A historical novel inspired by a true story, following a young girl’s pursuit of independence and innovation in colonial South Carolina.
- “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” by Agatha Christie – Featuring Hercule Poirot, Christie’s famous detective, with a deep indigo-themed mystery cover.
- Violet:
- “Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – A coming-of-age story set in Nigeria that explores themes of family, faith, and freedom.
- “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker – A powerful narrative of sisterhood, resilience, and love that has become a classic.
Staying Motivated During the Challenge
The Read the Rainbow Challenge is all about enjoying the process. However, staying motivated across multiple books can sometimes be challenging. Here are some tips to help you stay on track:
- Take It One Color at a Time: Instead of putting pressure on yourself to finish all seven colors quickly, enjoy each one. Perhaps dedicate a month to each color, or plan to finish all the colors over a summer season. Spacing it out will help maintain your enthusiasm and keep things from feeling rushed.
- Get Social: Share your challenge on social media or join an online book community. Posting pictures of your colorful book covers and talking about what you’re reading can make the challenge feel more interactive. Plus, you might inspire others to take on the challenge too!
- Reflect on Each Book: Keep a journal or a list of notes as you go. Write down a few thoughts about each book, noting what you loved, what you learned, and how the book fits into the color challenge. This makes the experience feel more intentional, and you’ll have something to look back on once you’re finished.
- Mix Formats: Switch up how you consume the books. Audiobooks, e-books, and physical copies all offer unique experiences. Listening to a bright blue-covered memoir on a summer drive or curling up with a red-covered thriller in paperback form gives variety to how you engage with each story.
The Benefits of a Color-Themed Challenge
One of the great benefits of the Read the Rainbow Challenge is that it pushes you out of your reading comfort zone. If you tend to stick with familiar genres, this challenge forces you to explore books you may not have picked otherwise. You might discover new genres, authors, or writing styles that you truly enjoy. The whimsical element of colors makes this an unintimidating way to expand your reading palette.
The visual aspect of the challenge can also be incredibly satisfying. Watching your bookshelf fill up with all the colors of the rainbow is like creating a piece of art—each book adding to the vibrancy of your collection. It’s a reminder of your journey and a tangible symbol of your commitment to reading.
Moreover, colors evoke emotions. You might find yourself emotionally connecting with books in a new way based on the feelings each color represents for you. Red might bring the heat of adventure or passion, while blue brings calmness or introspection. Organizing your reading life around these emotional cues can make for a richer experience, one that resonates beyond just the plot of each story.
Expanding Beyond the Rainbow
If you’re enjoying the Read the Rainbow Challenge, consider expanding it beyond the basic colors. Add a category for multicolored covers—books like “The Night Watchman” by Louise Erdrich, whose vivid cover captures multiple hues. You could also explore books with black or white covers for a striking contrast, like “The White Tiger” by Aravind Adiga or “White Teeth” by Zadie Smith.
Another fun idea is to match the color of the cover with the theme of the book itself. For example, read a book with a green cover that has an environmental theme, like “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson. Or, choose a book with a blue cover that deals with themes of water or the ocean, like “The Whale Rider” by Witi Ihimaera. Adding thematic layers to the colors of your books can deepen your appreciation for the stories.
A Colorful Reading Journey Awaits
The Read the Rainbow Challenge isn’t just a reading list—it’s a creative, dynamic way to engage with literature. It offers structure with the flexibility to choose books that genuinely interest you, all while adding a visual and thematic element that makes the journey even more enjoyable. Whether you’re looking to shake up your reading routine, explore new genres, or simply bring some color into your literary life, this challenge is a fun and fulfilling way to do it.
So go ahead, dive into the challenge, and fill your world with a spectrum of stories. With each color, you’re adding new dimensions to your reading experience—layer by layer, book by book, color by color. Let the rainbow be your guide and enjoy the vibrant journey through the pages of each story.
